Updates

USDOL Gets Tech-Savvy in Approving Electronic Notice Posting and FMLA-Qualifying Telemedicine Visits
January 3, 2021
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division was hard at work in the closing days of 2020, endorsing the use of electronic posting of required notices and telemedicine visits under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
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Federal Contractors and Recipients of Federal Grants Granted Relief from President’s Executive Order on Diversity and Inclusion Training
December 22, 2020
On December 22, 2020, a judge granted a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of the EO.
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Massachusetts: Does your Employee Handbook do more Harm than Good?
December 7, 2020
I often tell clients that one of the most important documents they need to have is an employee handbook, and that handbook needs to be up to date and legally compliant.
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U.S. DOL Issues Opinion Letters Regarding Compensation for Travel Time and Voluntary Training
November 15, 2020
On November 3, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor issued Opinion Letter FLSA2020-16, regarding the compensability of travel time for hourly (non-exempt) construction foremen and laborers under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Also on November 3, the DOL issued opinion letter FLSA 2020-15, regarding compensation for time employees spend attending voluntary training programs, specifically outside, ongoing continuing education classes.
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Illinois: What To Do About Fraudulent Unemployment Claims
November 11, 2020
Sometimes, crisis brings out the best in people. Unfortunately, it also often brings out the worst. While not an entirely new phenomenon, fraudulent unemployment claims have become a widespread phenomenon across the country, including in Illinois.
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President’s Executive Order on Diversity and Inclusion Training
October 18, 2020
Based on a recent Executive Order, federal contractors who conduct expanded diversity trainings now will be subjected to increased scrutiny, and some types of diversity training now may be construed as discriminatory.
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Independent Contractor Or Employee? AB 2257 Modifies AB 5, California’s Landmark Law Regarding Worker Classification
September 21, 2020
On September 4, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2257, which significantly expands and modifies the list of occupations and industries exempt from the default “ABC Test” for determining a worker’s classification.
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Key Changes to Hawaii Employment Laws
September 15, 2020
Our newsletter covers changes to Hawaii employment laws relating to sexual harassment and sexual assault nondisclosure agreements, Hawaii family leave law, and conviction checks.
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Treasury Department Provides Guidance on President Trump’s Deferral of Payroll Taxes
September 1, 2020
The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued, on August 28, a Notice concerning President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum concerning employers’ deferral of payroll taxes.
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Are There Triple Damages for Prevailing Wage Violations?
August 30, 2020
Most of you don’t have to worry about this question and its answer.  But those who work on government contracts—particularly public works projects—do.
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Hey CEOs – Be Careful About Diversity Hiring Quotas!
July 28, 2020
I’ve been following the public updates of major corporations on their diversity and inclusion activities.
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DOL Issues Five New Opinion Letters
June 25, 2020
On June 25, 2020, the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued five new opinion letters.
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